It Ain't Hard to Tell

Infobox Single
Name = It Ain't Hard to Tell


Artist = Nas
from Album = Illmatic
Released = January 18 1994
Format = 12" single, CD single
Recorded = 1992
Genre = East Coast hip hop
Length = 3:22
Label = Columbia
Writer = Nasir Jones
W.P. Mitchell
Producer = Large Professor
Chart position =
*#97 (U.S. Hot 100)
*#57 (U.S. R&B)
*#13 (U.S. Rap)
[ Reviews = ] *
Last single = "Halftime"
(1992)
This single = "It Ain't Hard to Tell"
(1994)
Next single = "The World Is Yours"
(1994)
Misc = Extra tracklisting
Album = Illmatic
Type = Studio
prev_track = "Represent"
prev_no = 9
this_track = "It Ain't Hard to Tell"
track_no = 10
next_track =
next_no =

"It Ain't Hard to Tell" is Nas' second single and last track from his debut album "Illmatic". Produced by Large Professor, the song samples Michael Jackson's 1983 hit single "Human Nature". The lyrics are incredible and rely heavily on wordplay. The single reached #97 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and was also a critical success.

In 1991, Nas recorded a demo tape for Columbia Records, featuring the original version of "It Ain't Hard to Tell" named "Nas Will Prevail". This version is roughly 90 seconds longer, includes longer different verses, and has a more subdued, jazzier beat close to the album version.

Music video

Nas created a homage to "Wild Style" (1982), the first hip hop motion picture, while shooting "It Ain't Hard to Tell's" music video, as he shot portions of the clip on the same stage used for the final scene of "Wild Style".

ampling

Lyrics of "It Ain't Hard to Tell" have been sampled in the following songs:
*"Correct Technique" by Basement Khemists
*"Ebonics" by Big L
*"Testimonial" by Binkies
*"Correct Technique" by Black Attack
*"Correct Technic" by Da Nuthouse
*"Inna Citi Life" by Group Home
*"Nas Is Like" by Nas
*"Half Man Half Amazin" by Pete Rock
*"Real Live Shit" by Real Live
*"Survival Of The Fittest" by Mobb Deep

ingle track listing

US 12" Vinyl

A-Side

# "It Ain't Hard to Tell" (Main Mix)

B-Side

# "It Ain't Hard to Tell" (Instrumental)
# "It Ain't Hard to Tell" (A Cappella)

US 12" Vinyl (Remix)

A-Side

# "It Ain't Hard to Tell (Remix)"

B-Side

# "It Ain't Hard to Tell (Remix Instrumental)"

UK 12" Vinyl

A-Side

# "It Ain't Hard to Tell" (Main Mix)
# "It Ain't Hard to Tell" (Main Mix Instrumental)

B-Side

# "It Ain't Hard to Tell" (Remix)
# "It Ain't Hard to Tell" (Acapella)

UK 12" Vinyl (The Remixes)

A-Side

# "It Ain't Hard to Tell (The Stink Mix)"
# "It Ain't Hard to Tell (The Stink Instrumental Mix)"

B-Side

# "It Ain't Hard to Tell (The Laidback Remix)"
# "It Ain't Hard to Tell (The Laidback Instrumental Remix)"

Netherlands 12" Vinyl

A-Side

# "It Ain't Hard to Tell (Album Mix)" (3:20)
# "It Ain't Hard to Tell (Album Mix Instrumental)" (3:20)

B-Side

# "It Ain't Hard to Tell (Remix)" (2:50)
# "It Ain't Hard to Tell (Remix Instrumental)" (2:50)
# "It Ain't Hard to Tell (A cappella)" (2:24)

Austria Maxi-CD (COL 660470 2)

# "It Ain't Hard to Tell (Main Mix)" (3:25)
# "It Ain't Hard to Tell (Remix)" (2:53)
# "It Ain't Hard to Tell (Acapella)" (2:27)
# "It Ain't Hard to Tell (Main Mix Instrumental)" (3:23)

Austria CD (COL 660302 2)

# "It Ain't Hard to Tell (Album Mix)"
# "It Ain't Hard to Tell (Album Mix Instrumental)"
# "It Ain't Hard to Tell (Remix)"
# "It Ain't Hard to Tell (Remix Instrumental)"
# "It Ain't Hard to Tell (A cappella)"

External links

* [http://homepage.mac.com/alqahtani/.Public/beats/hard-to-tell.mp3 Haroon Al-Qahtani's Onetime Remix]